TIPTOPSTARS

Very rare are young Cameroonian musicians who do not only venture into folkloric genres, but sing brilliantly in their mother tongue. Contemporary music, marked by brands such as Hip-Hop, Rap, etc has influenced the careers of scores of youths to the extent that few of them consider their roots. Even singers who do not reside in big towns and cities have found more pleasure with urban music than anything else. This has left indigenous music in an alarmingly oblivious back seat.

However, the handful of artists who have consolidated their stand with root music have displayed an exciting commitment which is easily noticed each time they spring with a production. Just like Richard Kings, Ateh Bazore, Wara Festus, etc, Lily Meka fits squarely in this category. She is young, yet so conscious of her roots and the beauty of her cultural background.

Lily, from Bui Division in the North West region of Cameroon is a fast-coming sensation her country and Africa as a whole will soon be proud to show to the rest of the world. “I’m proud of my culture and I think it is my responsibility to promote it via the art I know best. That’s why I sing in lamso, my mother tongue,” the USA-based musician told Afrikka Radio’s African Cocktail during a recent interview.

According to the talented singer who is amazingly fluent in English and French, her passion for music dates back to her childhood when she would do playbacks mimicking renowned female artists including the legendary Anne Marie Ndzie. “My community saw this talent in me and encouraged me greatly,” she told TIPTOPSTARS.

Lily who just moved to the United States and is poised to make major strides in her career has a beautifully packaged album to her credit. The six-track album has songs that exploit salient themes including the fight against malaria, known to be one of Africa’s most deadly diseases. In the track, United Against Malaria, the singer urges everyone to put hands on deck and combat malaria. Other songs in the album are Ver Sherri Woo Tatah, Koo Va Ve Sin, Ever Since I Met You, For The One, and Homage (For Mama).